Thor stairs - can you make them stay retracted?

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Cfdfc30

I have a 2019 Challenger YT. In the cabinet above the door is a stair switch that will either keep stairs down all the time in one position and in the other position stairs come down when door opens and retract when door closes. In either position when you put transmission in drive the stairs retract.

Everybody's does that and everybody has that switch.

[Cfdfc30]

This was my response to the original question don’t need your smart ass response

[gmc]

Originally Posted by Cfdfc30

This was my response to the original question don’t need your smart ass response

Well.. that switch doesn’t help the OPs question... which is how to KEEP the steps RETRACTED.
Regardless of that switches position, or engine running... if the chassis battery isn’t dead/disconnected, opening the door will EXTEND the steps...
Need to do something to bypass the default coach design that won’t let you fall out the door to no steps. Several viable alternatives suggested in other posts.

[valkosr]

Originally Posted by abjbrtd

I'm not sure about Thor class A but our sob A was easy to keep the steps in.

IF Thor uses a magnet on the screen door here's an easy way.
Get a small bar magnet, and attach (velcro) it on the screen door sensor on the door frame. This will tell the system that the screen door is closed even thought it is open and the*steps*will stay retracted.

Great tip! I have been disconnecting the plug under the steps, but I'll be using a magnet from now on.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

If the chassis engine is running: ours retract and deploy with every opening and closing of the Coach door.
Regardless of the position of the switch that turns them on or off!
I guess that it's something you get used to!

Originally Posted by TurnerFam

What you are saying is that whenever you have the key turned in the ignition, whether the coach is cranked, or not, the steps will Extend/Retract EVERY time the door is opened, or closed. Yes, that is exactly the way it is designed, and SHOULD work that way, NO MATTER which way you have the 'stay open, always open' switch is deployed.
The steps are tied into an 'ignition interlock', which means that the ignition overrides the 'stay out all the time' switch position, since you don't want the steps staying out while you are driving, even if you only 'accidentally' had the switch in the 'stay out' position.
It's a safety thang.

Now, if you have the switch in the 'stay out all the time' position, and you are PARKED, and you do NOT have the key turned on in the ignition, then the steps should stay OUT all the time. That's what the switch is for.


Though, so folks DON'T want their steps to stay out all the time, EVEN when they are parked... such as when they have their coach in STORAGE, and the steps don't need to be out all the time. Many dealers also do this while the coach is for sale on their lot.


If you are parked, and the key is not in the ignition, or not 'turned' in the ignition, and you have the step switch in the 'always out' position, and the steps continue to move in and out each time you open the screen door, then you have problem within the switch itself.

Originally Posted by gmc

Yep.. The ignition on overrides the switch and retracts the steps - and opening the door overrides the override and extends the steps so you don't fall out.
The switch is only meaningful with ignition off whether to leave steps out - or extend/retract with door open/close.
No choice to leave steps in (short of the chassis battery disconnect - that would do it... but of course other things may not work that you want.)


Easy enough to put a plug in the step motor wiring if there isn't one (as I said my old Infinity had one...)
I've seen people in campgrounds with larger wooden steps out of trailer or motor home for ease of access, a better railing, etc.. If they can't be built to clear the extended steps - then disconnecting the motor would do it.

Originally Posted by Cfdfc30

This was my response to the original question don’t need your smart ass response

Maybe you should have read the thread before responding with obvious information that had already been covered multiple times which doesn't help answer the OP's question.

Just trying to make you aware that your experience with your switch is the "Normal" way everybody's retractable steps work since you were so new with only 10 posts. Maybe you shouldn't be so sensitive as to immediately classify my response as "smart ass".

[mrgscooter]

My steps were working as described earlier until yesterday. Went to leave campground, started MH motor and noticed steps out. Checked the switch inside, nothing. Turned off MH motor and steps went in. Started MH again stayed in. Drove a few hours stopped at rest area. Steps went out when door opened, close door steps go in. Went back to MH to leave open door steps come out, close door step stay out. Start MH engine stay out, flipped the battery/storage switch off, then on. Step still out, flipped step switch, step go in. At home now went under MH, checked wiring etc., wondering if step controller is bad? Is there a way to check the controller? Any ideas.